Published: Monday, March 11, 2013 at 8:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 11, 2013 at 8:48 p.m.

The Wilmington Professional Firefighters Association has taken its concerns about pay and benefits directly to the people.

Starting this week, Port City drivers can see several pay-themed messages that will be displayed on electronic billboards, said Chuck Bower, the union’s president.

The messages will spend two weeks each on billboards along Oleander Drive, South College Road and the intersection of Gordon Road and Market Street, for a total of six weeks of exposure, Bower said.

One message has a picture of a firefighter with “Risking our lives for $9.63/hr.”

Another has a firefighter climbing a ladder with the message, “Why are we at the bottom of the pay ladder?”

The public messaging follows a March 1 letter the union sent to the City Council raising concerns about pay and benefits.

“ … We find it extremely difficult to believe that City Council and management of this city consider employees a valued asset,” Bower wrote.

He added that the city leaders have not committed to develop a long-term solution for pay and benefits.

Last week, Jeanne Sexton, the city’s human resources director, sounded the alarm about low pay affecting city workers at a council budget work session.

While salaried and hourly employees are 9 percent below-market overall, Sexton paid special attention to public safety workers. While fire pay overall is down, a starting firefighter here earns 21 percent below-market compared to the top cities, she said.

<p>The Wilmington Professional Firefighters Association has taken its concerns about pay and benefits directly to the people.</p><p>Starting this week, Port City drivers can see several pay-themed messages that will be displayed on electronic billboards, said Chuck Bower, the union's president.</p><p>The messages will spend two weeks each on billboards along Oleander Drive, South College Road and the intersection of Gordon Road and Market Street, for a total of six weeks of exposure, Bower said.</p><p>One message has a picture of a firefighter with “Risking our lives for $9.63/hr.”</p><p>Another has a firefighter climbing a ladder with the message, “Why are we at the bottom of the pay ladder?” </p><p>The public messaging follows a March 1 letter the union sent to the City Council raising concerns about pay and benefits.</p><p>“ … We find it extremely difficult to believe that City Council and management of this city consider employees a valued asset,” Bower wrote. </p><p>He added that the city leaders have not committed to develop a long-term solution for pay and benefits.</p><p>Last week, Jeanne Sexton, the city's human resources director, sounded the alarm about low pay affecting city workers at a council budget work session.</p><p>While salaried and hourly employees are 9 percent below-market overall, Sexton paid special attention to public safety workers. While fire pay overall is down, a starting firefighter here earns 21 percent below-market compared to the top cities, she said.</p><p>Julian March: 343-2099</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @julian_march</p>